Precision Screwdriver Advice

[TorqueRanger]

The other day I use a set of Kobalt screwdriver set in the  pic  below ... I really liked them because they where nice to use and seemed to be made of quality metal ...But what do you guys think of the set for the price ?


http://www.lowes.com/pd_115462-86580-SF3B_4294857616__?productId=3276987&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1

[Kilroy]

It's just a personal thing, but I don't really like the idea of changing bits all the time, so that would disqualify that set for me on that point alone.

The screw drivers I use are made by Wiha and find them to be excellent value. It's no fun when your screw driver tips don't seat well in the screw head, twist out and ruin the fastener. That only has to happen a few times and even an expensive set of tools seems like a bargain.

Life can be aggravating enough. Go ahead and do something outrageous...treat yourself to a really nice set of screw drivers. You're probably worth it.

[quarks]

Unfortunately I do not know the product above and I also can not see the price of the set.

If you look for precision screw drivers, I highly recommend to have a look at Wiha, Wera or PBswiss. They are not cheap, but the best quality I know of. In my opinion they are worth every penny and therefore a very good investment.

[grenert]

I completely agree with the above.  Of all of the tools I've used, where I can really tell the difference between good and bad ones is with screwdrivers.  Ratchet sockets are second.

[nanofrog]

+1 for Wiha. As grenert mentioned, you can notice the difference between good screwdrivers, pliers, and cutters.

I use the Drive-Loc series (interchangeable bits that allow the user to set the length, and won't slide back up inside the handle).
System 6 version example (http://www.kctoolco.com/Drive-Loc-VI-Security-Torx-6-Piece-Set-p/28197.htm)
System 4 version (http://www.kctoolco.com/System-4-ESD-Safe-Drive-Loc-IV-12-Piece-Set-p/26985.htm)

I liked the System 4 enough I bought a System 6 set as well, and added a bunch of additional blades (mostly security profiles, as I'm seeing more and more of them).

@ Kilroy:
As per changing the blades all of the time, there's a simple solution; get more than one handle (say 2, maybe 3, as I found that will cover what's needed most of the time). Saves space and weight, if that matters (incredibly useful for field work IMHO, which is another reason I bought them). Cost wise, I found this method was actually less expensive than separate drivers for what I needed (based on US sources). YMMV though.

[ejeffrey]

Those $15 ~15 piece kits are ok to have several sets of lying around the house, but I would prefer to keep them out of the shop and the tool chest.  My recommendation is to buy a super premium set of the most commonly used drivers -- a few sizes of phillips, flat, and possibly hex.  You will use these all the time, and want something good.  Then get one of those cheap 50 part kits with interchangeable bits.  You won't use most of these very often, but it is nice to always have the right bit.  You may also need a cheap set of fixed torx and t-torx drivers to be able to reach recessed screws.  Most interchangeable bit systems can't reach very deep.

The #2 phillips is the probably the most important to have a really high quality driver.  This is one of the most common sizes for self-tapping and wood screws, and phillips is the most prone to cam out.  On the other hand, a good hex driver is nice to have but even a crappy one works pretty well.

[flolic]

If you look for precision screw drivers, I highly recommend to have a look at Wiha, Wera or PBswiss. They are not cheap, but the best quality I know of. In my opinion they are worth every penny and therefore a very good investment.

After I tried many different screwdriver sets, I found that Wera tools are best thing that I am aware of. They are made of super quality steel, and tip geometry and precision is outstanding. That can best be seen if you compare smaller Phillips sizes (PH000, PH00) to other/cheaper brands. PH00 is my my most used screwdriver, and low quality tool will very soon show all of its weaknesses (and strip screw head  ).

[quarks]

I think you should always try to buy the best tools you can afford.
I found this saves money in the long run.
Below is what I use for electronic and electrician work.

[M. András]

i agree on that wiha system 4/6 tools however i managed to damage the tip of a ph1 system 6 balde on the same day i got them in my hand looks like the screw was a bit harder material which is odd

[kripton2035]

+1 for wiha I use everyday
I also have some bost screwdrivers that are nice, but not as rock solid as the wiha
they are also cheaper : count some 3 EUR for a bost PH00 and 9 EUR for the same wiha.

[nanofrog]

i agree on that wiha system 4/6 tools however i managed to damage the tip of a ph1 system 6 balde on the same day i got them in my hand looks like the screw was a bit harder material which is odd

This isn't the first time I've heard of a QC issue, but it doesn't seem to be that common (one other, is that the set came with a broken tip).

I have noticed a few don't fit quite as tight as I'm accustomed to (recent System 6 blade purchases), but they do seem to work just fine so far. Haven't stripped anything yet, and the tip isn't being torn up either. Not a lot of hours on them yet though.

[M. András]

apart from that the cheap chinese sets fits perfectly to some screws this set wiggle a bit, but i use the hey bit holder often so i dont care if i tear those low cost bits i have approx 400 of them everywhere better then damage an expensive blade, as for farnell sending me 2units of 3/4 torx for the system 4 set instead 1unit 3/4 and 1 unit 5/6 didnt brother to send them back perfect for phones

[Precisiontools]

All the brands mentioned here are excellent. Felo is another one that you could look at...

http://german-hand-tools.com/Felo-Products.html

[cybergibbons]

I think you should always try to buy the best tools you can afford.
I found this saves money in the long run.
Below is what I use for electronic and electrician work.

I love my Wera Screwdriver - I have the same green handled precision set, some of the stainless grey handles, and the insulated ones.

All hobbyists should have PH0 and PH1. So many times people only have PZ0 and PZ1, and they are not the same! Nearly all electronics are still PH.

[Kevin.D]

quote :-  "All hobbyists should have PH0 and PH1. So many times people only have PZ0 and PZ1, and they are not the same! Nearly all electronics are still PH."

Are you sure about that ?. I just done a quick survey of  my  "saved screw collection"  which are a  load of old screws that I took from electronics devices,
and the ratio is like about 66% philips 33% pozidrive in them I would say.

ejjefrey  said :-  " The #2 phillips is the probably the most important to have a really high quality driver.  This is one of the most common sizes for self-tapping and wood screws, and phillips is the most prone to cam out.  "

It's almost all pozidrive here for wood screw .Pozidrive number 2 is easily the most widley used , perhaps it's different in America than in Europe .
One of the main difference between them I think is Phillips are designed to cam out so you don't ruin the screw head ,pozi are designed to grip the screw head stronger .
if you use pozidrive on phillips screw ,or phillips on pozi screw  then you'll probably  chew up allot of screw heads or screw driver ends .

[nanofrog]

Pozidrive/PZ isn't that common in the US right now. For wood screws, Roberston/Square Drive is more common here vs. PZ (can't even recall seeing PZ wood screws in a store). Torx is making inroads as well.

[Kevin.D]

It's just the opposite here in Europe (UK) ,take a look at somewhere like www.screwfix.com
or a large hardware store over here and  you can see thay are almost all PZ heads ,cant even see a phillips head type screw in the wood screw or self tappers sections there .
Wonder what type cross screw heads the Asian manufactures are mostly using. ?

[quarks]

besides the "normal" screw drivers I also find these very handy/helpfull
(top: electrician set to go, middle: set with security bits, bottom: great lifter/desolder help)

[rollatorwieltje]

Make sure you get some screwdrivers with long thin shafts. Nothing is more annoying than not being able to actually reach the screw. I find this is often a problem with screwdrivers that use bits, they are so big they don't fit inside sunken screw holes (look at Dave's teardown of the Apple computer to see what I mean).

[Homer J Simpson]

Another vote for Wiha.

I have this one. You do have to change bits but the quality of the bits is excellent.

The picture is a little deceiving. It is a small set for precision work.

Wiha 75093

http://www.amazon.com/Wiha-75093-Handles-Slotted-Phillips/dp/B002PJ3IYE/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_cp_1

[nanofrog]

Make sure you get some screwdrivers with long thin shafts. Nothing is more annoying than not being able to actually reach the screw. I find this is often a problem with screwdrivers that use bits, they are so big they don't fit inside sunken screw holes (look at Dave's teardown of the Apple computer to see what I mean).

+1 

Some of the interchangeables can manage this due to the longer bit depth. For security bits, there are 6"/150mm long bits (seen them sold as Neiko brand).

[saturation]

Kobalt is a house Lowe's brand of medium range quality.  The trick to precision tools is equally the precision workmanship of the driver tip and the metal alloy used.  Applying a lot of torque to the big handle won't matter if finely cut tips deform so the metal must be good quality as there is not much mass in small tool heads; that why you can find 'precision' tools as low as $3/set  in the USA that appear to look good, until you look at them closely and see the tips cut haphazardly or apply some torque to them and they snap.

Willie Hahn, aka Wiha, and many of similar quality, make their precision tools typically with chromium, molybdenum +/- vanadium steel to add the special quality to the tool, so a set of 7 Wiha drivers will run about $40, but they are truly made to take the torque for the handle they are designed to fit and are cut perfectly to fit all the screws they were designed to twist. 

IMHO Wihas have never failed to fit, but rarely, the cheapo tools will not fit a supposed proper screw, that's the main difference, and when you twist a stubborn screw, most often the cheap drivers either can't do it or deform, whereas Wihas will stay true.  One won't know experience this until you've open quite a number of cases, and stubborn screws are often found in soiled or contaminated devices used in commercial or military settings rather than personal devices that are not as heavily used or abused.

The other day I use a set of Kobalt screwdriver set in the  pic  below ... I really liked them because they where nice to use and seemed to be made of quality metal ...But what do you guys think of the set for the price ?


http://www.lowes.com/pd_115462-86580-SF3B_4294857616__?productId=3276987&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1

[Kremmen]

Your mileage seems to vary then. Wood screws around here tend to be Ph2 - both the flat head utility screws and the conical sink head wood screws. Though the latter ones seem to be migrating to Torx these days. Sheet metal self tapping screws are Pz2 as a rule.

[cybergibbons]

I find it very rare to find PZ on electronic equipment, yet I haven't seen a PH screw on any wood or furniture for years now.

[Christe4nM]

I wonder why nobody has mentioned Gedore yet. As far as I know they are one of 'the' brands to get your tools from. I haven't got experience with their screwdrivers, but if I had to get a set I would consider them first. Unless of course there are even better ones?

Does anybody know if they are at the same quality level as Wiha (whom I don't know) for example, or above, or below? Maybe at that level it's more a thing of personal preference than quality, since the latter is very good to begin with?